Lowest league attendance at Maine Road

[The Lightbowne Cowboy]

Lowest league attendance I've seen at Maine Road was 16022 Against Brighton in 1988, we were in division 2 that season. Was eerily empty in the Kippax that day. Around that era both Chelsea and Newcastle had lower crowds than us so WWTWTWS?

I think we had 2 below that around 87-88 Millwall and Reading, 15000+. Football attendances were on their arse back then, but we were still one of the best supported clubs.

 

[Didsbury Dave]

I think we had 2 below that around 87-88 Millwall and Reading, 15000+. Football attendances were on their arse back then, but we were still one of the best supported clubs.

Yep, I remember being at the Millwall game and noting that it was only 15k. It was a night match.

 

[Scaring Europe to Death]

I think we had 2 below that around 87-88 Millwall and Reading, 15000+. Football attendances were on their arse back then, but we were still one of the best supported clubs.

I was just talking about this last night.

My first Adult Season Ticket was in 81-82 and it cost £20 for the Kippax
A matchday ticket was £1.20 which was roughly twice the price of a pint of bitter, and yet by the mid-late 80s we were averaging less than 20,000. Even the rags were down to 36,000 despite still having a decent team.

Nowadays it's never been so expensive and yet we're experiencing record attendances. Meanwhile we sell 9,000 tickets for a Friday Night FA Cup game at Tottenham despite numerous complaints about the prices and the kick-off time.

 

[xgorton]

Going back to our lowest league gate 8,015 v Swindon 16th January 1965 I remember sitting down on the Kippax steps and watching the game just a couple of month's before my 13th birthday,it was a 63,000 capacity stadium back then.Never missed home games and did a few away.

 

[old blue]

at old trafford ..... not sure about the dog

It was a big rat.

 

[blueandy1mac]

I’ve just done a bit of googling and it was the 1st March 1972, against WBA, 2-1 City, crowd was 26k against the normal crowd of 37k that season.

We were in our 5th year at a Preston Sec Mod school but managed to skive off at dinner time to make the 2 afternoon games. Even got marked present as our form teacher was a Manc blue who 'did the deed' in return for a match programme.

 

[blueandy1mac]

I reckon it was Coventry? Think there was a bomb scare and the ref picked up the ball and shook it next to his ear - hope I haven't made this up?

true, remember it, but it may have been buzzer.

 

[levets]

I reckon it was Coventry? Think there was a bomb scare and the ref picked up the ball and shook it next to his ear - hope I haven't made this up?

Definitely Coventry and I’m sure it was a League Cup game.

 

[hammocity]

Definitely Coventry and I’m sure it was a League Cup game.

The game I first referenced was v WBA ion the 1st March 1972, attached is the programme front cover, it’s a bit distorted but that was the Wednesday afternoon game I went to. The crowd was down by over 10k on our usual gate.

 

[hammocity]

You‘re right. I was in Platt Lane. In my mind it was Summerbee who picked the ball up and shook it, but it’s definitely that game/day.

What about the game on the 1st March 1972, WBA at 3pm on a Wednesday?